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‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Attacked In Violent Hate Crime

Jussie Smollett of “Empire” (image via Instagram)

Entertainment website ThatGrapeJuice is reporting that Empire star Jussie Smollett has been the victim of what appears to be a violent hate crime early Tuesday morning.

The out actor first received a threat through the mail of cut-out letters which read, “You will die black fag.”

(Image via ThatGrapeJuice.net – click to enlarge)

Then, around 2 AM this morning, he was attacked on the street by two men wearing ski masks who approached him “yelling out racial and homophobic slurs towards him,” according to an official statement by Chicago Police Department.

During the assault, the assailants “began to batter the victim with their hands about the face and poured an unknown chemical substance on the victim.”

At some point during the assault, the attackers put a noose around Smollett’s neck.

TMZ is reporting that as the assailants ran off they yelled, “This is MAGA country.”

The 35-year-old actor was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital following the attack, according to TMZ. He’s reported in good condition.

The Chicago Police are investigating the assault and battery as a possible hate crime.

Smollett came out in 2015 during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres.

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Christina Aguilera Announces New Las Vegas Residency “The Xperience”

Six-time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera has announced that her new residency show, Christina Aguilera: The Xperience, will open at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Friday, May 31, 2019.

Six-time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera has announced that her new residency show, Christina Aguilera: The Xperience, will open at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Friday, May 31, 2019.

“This is the next chapter in something new, exciting, creative and epic for my fans,” Aguilera told Billboard.

People visit to experience something new, different, exciting, to escape their everyday world. I wanted to put together a fantasy and let people slip into a world of finding their own true selves.

The international superstar recently returned to the road after a break of more than ten years.

Aguilera says the creative process and experience of performing her recently-wrapped The Liberation Tour was the impetus that inspired her to take on Las Vegas and Christina Aguilera: The Xperience.

“To be on that stage has always been my first love since I was a tiny little girl,” Aguilera shared in a statement. “The whole point of Liberation was getting back in touch with myself, finding that love, being in my artist body again, finding my true self and identity on stage again. It was just like coming home. And I want to take that to Las Vegas.” 

“The Xperience is going to be my most ambitious show yet,” promises the pop music powerhouse. “Getting to perform in this adult playground we call Las Vegas is inspiring me to bring forth all of my talents in a mind-blowing theatrical experience – song, dance, visuals and uninterrupted high energy.”

“For years I have been collecting ideas and concepts that have yet to be implemented on my stages, and Las Vegas is the perfect opportunity for me to collectively showcase my artistry,” she adds. “I cannot wait to bring you into The Xperience.”

Aguilera shares that she hasn’t seen her fellow pop-divas (J-Lo, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani) in residence in Sin City yet, but an exploratory trip in the works.

“I’m getting a bunch of my girls together and we’re going to Vegas,” she says. “Check out Gaga’s new extravaganza. I’m sure it’s going to be so exciting. She always brings a great show.”

But it won’t be all playtime – the ‘Genie in a Bottle’ singer plans on scoping out the scene for research.

“[I’ll be looking at] what is a Vegas audience all about?” She tells Billboard. “How do they react to the show? I want to feel their energy, see what they react to.”

She also says she’s getting feedback from fans on what they want to see on the Zappos Theater stage.

“I always like to get what they’re feeling and thinking,” she says.

Currently nominated for two 2019 Grammy Awards (coming up February 10), the 38-year-old former Mouseketeer has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making her one of the biggest selling artists in history.

The details: Tickets (starting at $60) go on sale to the public Saturday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. PT. Fans can sign up now at christinaaguilera.com for exclusive access. The 16 performances going on sale are:

May 2019: 31
June 2019: 1, 5, 7, 8, 13, 15, 16
Sept. 2019: 20, 21, 24, 27, 28
Oct. 2019: 2, 4, 5

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Former Starbucks CEO Considering Independent 2020 Run For President

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz told 60 Minutes last night, “I am seriously thinking of running for president."
Howard Schultz

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz told 60 Minutes last night, “I am seriously thinking of running for president.”

Schultz says he would run as a “centrist independent.”

Please – no.

He’ll simply split the anti-Trump vote and we’ll get four more years of the Trumpster.

As these graphics from MSNBC’s Hardball illustrate, even pulling a relatively small amount of votes can wreck havoc.

Donald Trump won the presidency with three unexpected wins – in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

While Clinton lost Michigan by just over 10,000 votes, Green Party candidate Jill Stein got over 50,000 votes. Had she not been in the running, it’s easy to imagine those Green Party voters heading more to Democrat Clinton than Trump.

It’s a similar situation in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

And going back to the 2000 presidential election, George W. Bush won the White House by taking Florida – by only 537 votes.
Indie Ralph Nader got almost 100,000 votes. It’s not a stretch to think Al Gore would have received the bulk of those votes had Nader not been in the mix.

So – no. No independent Schultz run.

He’s a Democrat. If he wants to run, run in the primary as a Democrat and see if the people wants him.

Here’s the scintillating Howard Schultz:

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News Round-Up: January 28, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• I just came across InstaHunk Thara (above), who basically has it ALL going on. #woof

• Speaking to Rolling Stone, Oscar winner Michael Caine calls his same-sex kiss with Christopher Reeve in the film Deathtrap “a bit of a disaster.”

• Longtime Donald Trump confidant, Roger Stone, told reporters the FBI stormed his house “with greater force than was used to take down bin Laden.” Note – Bin Laden was shot in the head and dropped in the ocean. I don’t think the two experiences are comparable…

• Acting attorney general Matthew G. Whitaker told reporters today that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation is nearing the end.

• A guy goes on Jeopardy, wins almost $100K and wins hearts by blithely mentioning his husband in passing.

• I’ve been meaning to post this for days: a dad and son, both dressed as Frozen’s Elsa, dance to “Let It Go.” The video was captioned, “Mom is gone, no stress.”

The dad told CBS News, “It’s important to teach children you can do whatever you want to do. It’s important to embarrass yourself and let go.”

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Nyle DiMarco Drops ASL Version Of Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings” Video

Deaf activist and model Nyle DiMarco has dropped his own special version of Ariana Grande’s latest music video, “7 Rings.”

Deaf activist and model Nyle DiMarco has dropped his own special version of Ariana Grande’s latest music video, “7 Rings.”

An outspoken advocate for the Deaf community, the dashing DiMarco tweeted Grande back in November when she released her “Thank U Next” video asking her to “add captions for 466 million people with hearing loss (deaf here and we do enjoy your music).”

When la grand Grande released her “7 Rings” video, the former America’s Next Top Model champ tweeted the good news: “@ArianaGrande dropped WITH CAPTIONS!”

Even so, DiMarco decided to take things a little bit further and shoot his own version of the video with director Jake Wilson.

DiMarco’s take on “7 Rings” uses Ariana’s as a guide, but shifts the color scheme from pink to cool blue, and features American Sign Language by the sexually fluid hunk. Along the way, he’s joined by some fine looking dancers who drop some ASL alongside him.

Through it all, DiMarco stalks the camera making eyes at me the viewing audience.

“Captioning enhances the viewing experience,” DiMarco recently told Out. “It should be a standard part of any filmed media, and not as an afterthought, but as a part of the ultimate golden standard of universal design.”

On the official website for his foundation, DiMarco shares, “Two percent (2%) of the world’s Deaf population has access to education in sign language.”

Additionally, only 25% of parents use sign language to communicate with their Deaf child.

Imagine living in a world where language was not available to you.

Check out Nyle DiMarco’s ASL version of “7 Rings” below.

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Report: #TrumpShutdown Cost US Economy $11 Billion

Donald Trump's knee-jerk reaction to criticism by Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, which triggered the longest government shutdown in US history, cost the US economy $11 billion, reports the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s knee-jerk reaction to criticism by Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, which triggered the longest government shutdown in US history, cost the US economy $11 billion, reports the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The analysis takes into account lost output from federal workers, delayed government spending and reduced demand.

Via CNBC:

The report, which was released Monday, estimated a hit of $3 billion, or 0.1 percent, to economic activity during the fourth quarter of 2018. The impact was projected to be greater during the first quarter of 2019: $8 billion, or 0.2 percent of GDP.

Although most of the damage to the economy will be reversed as federal workers return to their jobs, the CBO estimated $3 billion in economic activity is permanently lost after a quarter of the government was closed for nearly 35 days.

“Among those who experienced the largest and most direct negative effects are federal workers who faced delayed compensation and private-sector entities that lost business,” the report said. “Some of those private-sector entities will never recoup that lost income.”

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Music Video: Courtney Act “Fight For Love”

Courtney Act in “Fight For Love”


RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Courtney Act drops her brand new music video, “Fight For Love,” today as she preps to become Australia’s entry at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.

Act will participate in ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides’ on SBS on Saturday, February 9, where the winner will be determined via the combination of a public vote (50%) and the votes of a professional jury panel (50%).

She calls the dance-pop single “a dancefloor banger about coming together and fighting for the things we believe in.”

Echoing a message of social justice, she adds, “I think it’s so important to think about the basic human rights of others and to use our collective voices, minds and bodies to lift those people up and bring about change.”

Courtney Act (image via Facebook)

The 36-year-old first made her way into the public spotlight during the debut season of Australian Idol in 2003. Making it to the Wild Card round, she was the first competitor to bring the art of drag to a reality show.

Since that time, she’s placed 3rd on Season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, won the 2018 season of Celebrity Big Brother UK, celebrated her own 2018 holiday TV special, Courtney Act’s Christmas Extravaganza, and is now the host of the UK bisexual dating show, The Bi Life, on E!

And along the way, she’s help to educate her fans on LGBTQ issues like HIV stigma and gender fluidity.

“A sweet 16 years after Australian Idol, I have the chance to show the world how I have grown as an artist and performer and I am so excited,” says the drag superstar.

“Fight For Love” harkens back to the heyday of music videos with several glam looks for Act, dancing drones, and an undeniable dance beat perfect for the Pride dance floor.

This is certainly material Eurovision embraces.

Check out “Fight For Love” below.

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FOX Delivers Solid ‘RENT: Live’ Despite Small Missteps

The cast of FOX TV’s ‘RENT: Live’

The latest installment of live television presentations of Broadway musicals arrived last night as theater fans sat down to take in the 1996 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning RENT by the gone-too-soon Jonathan Larson on FOX TV. It’s important to note that Brennin Hunt, the actor in the lead role of Roger, broke his ankle near the end of the dress rehearsal on Saturday. With no understudy waiting in the wings, FOX decided to (mostly) air the recorded dress rehearsal. Cast member Jennifer Leigh Warren shared on Facebook that Sunday evening’s presentation was, indeed, live for the last two segments (from the parents’ calls to the end). The final scene was restaged with Hunt sitting with his foot propped up and the other actors working around him. For those interested, while the filmed dress rehearsal made up much of the presentation Sunday night, the live audience in the studio were still treated to ‘concert’ performances during the telecast. https://twitter.com/ItsAHardG/status/1090028998694920193 https://twitter.com/Foreverayoung/status/1089701474399973376 Some say it’s unfair to judge dress rehearsal performances that were never intended to be seen as some performers might have been ‘holding back’ or saving themselves for the real deal Sunday night. However, I’m not sure how much of that might be true. The dress rehearsal was performed in front of a live audience, and having been an actor on Broadway and in national touring companies since the mid-1980s, I don’t know any folks who hold back in a final dress rehearsal with 1,100 people in attendance. In any case, the version that landed last night on FOX was very enjoyable, if a bit uneven.

For those who are new to the piece, RENT is a musical riff on the classic opera, La Boheme, adapted to tell the story of a group of struggling artists inhabiting a loft on the lower East Side of Manhattan It’s amazing that RENT was even on television when you consider much of the play centers on a two queer relationships: one between a black man, Tom Collins (the amazing Brandon Victor Dixon), and a drag queen named Angel (played by RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Valentina); the second pairing the pragmatic Joanne (Kiersey Clemons) with flighty, flirty performance artist, Maureen (Vanessa Hudgens). Rounding out the principal players are the aforementioned Hunt, whose Roger falls in love with Mimi (R&B singer Tinashe), Jordan Fisher as Mark, and their longtime friend turned landlord, Benny (singer Mario). Overall, the production won the day with creative staging, excellent lighting and some tremendous performances. Brandon Victor Dixon’s powerful, gut-punch reprise of “I’ll Cover You” was undeniable. If folks were ‘holding back’ for dress rehearsal, they forgot to tell Dixon. Raw, vocally on point, emotionally open – this is what RENT is about. Easily one of the high points of the production. https://twitter.com/BroadwayTube/status/1090085799733985280 Fox TV’s RENT: Live was powerfully moving. And, the show put queer relationships and the AIDS epidemic back in front of a television audience. https://youtu.be/iJwxf22nPlw  

Continue reading “FOX Delivers Solid ‘RENT: Live’ Despite Small Missteps”

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New From Randy Rainbow “The Donald Trump Cellblock Tango (Part One)”

Randy Rainbow’s satirical take on ‘The Cellblock Tango’

Squee!!! It’s always a good Monday when we start out with new material from satirist Randy Rainbow.

Randy’s take on the Kander and Ebb show-stopper “Cellblock Tango” from Chicago the Musical is pure lyric wizardry.

I don’t want to give away any of the jokes, so hit the play button below and enjoy.

Happy Monday!

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Podcast: Good News In Angola, 2019 GLAAD Media Award Nominations, Generals Speak Out Against Trans Ban

In this week’s podcast:

• Angola repeals anti-homosexuality laws and passes LGBTQ protections

• Observing the International Holocaust Remembrance Day

• The 30th annual GLAAD Media Award nominations were announced

• Four star generals are still opposing Donald Trump’s transgender military ban

• A new study looks into which states men most exaggerate most about ‘size’

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.